President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s last State-of-the-Nation Address will focus on her administration’s accomplishments and what needs to be done in the future to sustain the country’s gains and improve the welfare of Filipinos.
In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President’s “historic” SONA at the opening of the joint Congress on July 27 at the Batasan Complex will last about 40 minutes.
On Monday, Remonde said the Chief Executive will candidly report to the public the accomplishments made since 2001 including the country’s economic resilience in the face of the global crisis.
“This will be a very historic SONA that should not be missed by anyone who cares for his or her country. The President will tell our people very candidly about the state of the nation against the backdrop of the global financial crisis. She will report to the nation what has been done by her administration to minimize the impact of the global crisis to our country and people,” he said.
The President, according to him, ably steered the economy to achieve our economic resiliency that made the Philippines “among the very few countries in the world that will continue to enjoy economic growth this year.”
Remonde said this was validated yesterday by Moody’s upgraded rating for the Philippines.
The Press Secretary said the SONA will also “tell us what needs to be done in the future so that the gains of her administration will be preserved for the best interest of our country.”
Expected to be highlighted are the accomplishments in the President’s 10-point agenda to include programs to balance the budget, livelihood and jobs generation, political reforms, peace and security, unprecedented investments in human and major physical infrastructure, wider access to education, quality health care and other social services programs.
Remonde said the President’s SONA will be backed up by audio-visual testimonies of project beneficiaries.
“I hope that finally after the SONA, all these issues about declaring Martial, state of emergency and everything else will be laid to rest,” Remonde.
“For those who have faith no explanation will be necessary but for those who have no faith no explanation will be possible considering that we are still at the height of the political season I believe that we will never run out of doubting Thomases,” Remonde said.
Remonde expressed gratitude to the pronouncements of Senate president Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and leading businessman Manny V. Pangilinan who both praised the Chief Executive as one of the best Presidents the country ever had.
Remonde said Enrile is a statesman who has seen the ups and downs of Philippine politics at least for the last decade, while Pangilinan is one of Asia’s most distinguished and respected businessmen.
David Mikael Taclino
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